China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the State Administration for Market Regulation and other departments, recently issued a joint announcement stating that starting January 1, 2026, the production of mercury thermometers and mercury sphygmomanometers will be completely prohibited nationwide.
This policy marks a major milestone in China’s efforts to phase out mercury-containing medical devices, aligning more closely with the international Minamata Convention on Mercury. It also reflects the country’s commitment to upgrading its public health and medical industries toward safer, greener, and fully mercury-free technologies.
According to the announcement, as mercury-pollution control continues to advance, mercury-containing products will be phased out from medical, industrial, and household sectors to minimize environmental mercury release. Industry experts note that this ban will accelerate the adoption of digital and mercury-free medical devices, while also promoting the development of environmentally friendly disinfection and optical technologies — helping to build a cleaner and safer public health ecosystem.
Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal with long-term, irreversible effects on both human health and the environment:
Human health risks: Mercury vapor and mercury compounds can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and immune system. Long-term exposure poses severe health threats, especially to children and pregnant women.
Environmental impact: Once released, mercury is difficult to remove. It persists in water and soil and accumulates through the food chain, creating widespread ecological hazards.
Difficult to handle: Broken mercury-containing products often cause secondary contamination, resulting in high cleanup costs and significant safety risks.
For these reasons, many countries around the world have accelerated bans or restrictions on mercury-containing devices, driving global progress toward a mercury-free future.
As mercury-based technologies are phased out, UVC-LED has rapidly become the preferred alternative thanks to its high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and zero-mercury design. As a leading manufacturer of UVC-LED water sterilization solutions, Innest has fully adopted mercury-free technology across all product lines, supporting both public health and environmental protection goals.
Unlike traditional mercury UV lamps, UVC-LEDs contain no hazardous metals and pose no risk of mercury leakage, naturally aligning with global mercury-free regulatory trends.
With Innest’s independently developed optical architecture, our UVC-LED systems can inactivate 99.99% of bacteria and viruses within 0.2 seconds, including Escherichia coli, MS2 bacteriophage, and other common waterborne microorganisms.
Whether for home water dispensers, RV water systems, laboratory environments, or flowing-water disinfection devices, Innest provides customized UVC-LED modules tailored to various applications.
UVC-LEDs feature long operating life, instant startup with no warm-up time, low energy consumption, and minimal maintenance needs.
China’s 2026 ban on mercury thermometers marks a significant step forward in environmental governance and public health protection. Mercury-free development is no longer a trend — it is becoming a global industry standard.
As a company dedicated to safe and healthy water solutions, Innest will continue advancing UVC-LED technology to deliver safer, greener, and more efficient sterilization solutions for users worldwide, contributing to a sustainable, mercury-free future.
For more information about our UVC-LED products or customized solutions, feel free to contact us anytime.
For more information on UV water sterilization technology and our products, please visit our website or contact our customer service team directly. We look forward to providing you with the best water treatment solutions to ensure your water safety.
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